The RS-28 Sarmat, also known as “Satan 2,” has the capability to wipe out a landmass “the size of Texas or France,” according to the Kremlin-aligned Sputnik news agency

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The RS-28 Sarmat, also known as “Satan 2,” is expected to come in to service in 2018.

Russia has released the first image of its newest thermonuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missile, NBC News reported.

The RS-28 Sarmat, also known as “Satan 2,” has the capability to wipe out a landmass “the size of Texas or France,” according to the Kremlin-aligned Sputnik news agency. It will replace the RS-36M, also known as “Satan,” which entered service in the 1970s.

Former nuclear weapons expert at the U.S. Department of Energy, Robert Kelley, said the upgrade was likely the electronic aspect of the weapon. The range and explosive power are likely the same as previous missiles, but the reliability, flexibility and confidence are new, he said.